Madiba’s words still inspire

2015-07-29 06:00

Oteng Mpete

NELSON MANDELA and his ex-wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, walking hand in hand, with clenched fists raised, upon Mandela’s release from the Victor Verster Prison in Paarl on 11 February 1990. Mandela put 27 years as a political prisoner behind him a

NELSON MANDELA, the first black president of South Africa, will forever be missed by the world.

Mandela was born 18 July 1918 and died on 5 December 2013. Even though he is no more, his birthday (Mandela Day) is still celebrated worldwide by changing the lives of others.

He served 27 years in prison, mostly on Robben Island. In 1994 he led the ANC to victory and became South Africa’s first black president.

He led the country from 10 May 1994 until 14 June 1999, leaving the presidential seat to former pres. Thabo Mbeki.

Express Eastern Free State looks back on Mandela’s famous quotes in wrapping up Mandela Month:

) Never, never and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another and suffer the indignity of being the skunk of the world.

) As I walked out the door toward my freedom, I knew that if I did not leave all the anger, hatred and bitterness behind, I would still be in prison.

) I do not deny that I planned sabotage. I did not plan it in a spirit of recklessness, nor because I have any love of violence. I planned it as a result of a calm and sober assessment of the political situation that had arisen after many years of tyranny, exploitation and oppression of my people by the whites.

) Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.

) Without education, your children can never really meet the challenges they will face. So it’s very important to give children education and explain that they should play a role for their country.

) No country can really develop unless its citizens are educated.

) There is no passion to be found playing small – in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.

) There is no easy walk to freedom anywhere, and many of us will have to pass through the valley of the shadow of death again and again before we reach the mountain top of our desires.

) Even if you have a terminal disease, you don’t have to sit down and mope. Enjoy life and challenge the illness that you have.

) A good leader can engage in a debate frankly and thoroughly, knowing that at the end he and the other side must be closer, and thus emerge stronger. You don’t have that idea when you are arrogant, superficial, and uninformed.

) If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner.

) Like slavery and apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings.

) If you talk to a man in a language that he understands, that goes to his head, but if you talk to him in his language that goes to his heart.

) It always seems impossible until it is done.

) Do not judge me by my success, judge me by how many times I fell and got up again.

) I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democra-tic and free society in which all persons will live together in harmony with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for, and to see realised. But my Lord, if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.

) I stand here before you not as a prophet, but as a humble servant of you, the people. Your tireless and heroic sacrifices have made it possible for me to be here today. I therefore place the remaining years of my life in your hands.

) Difficulties break some men, but make others. No axe is sharp enough to cut the soul of a sinner who keeps on trying, armed with the hope that he will rise even in the end.

) I have walked that long road to freedom. I have tried not to falter; I have made missteps along the way. But I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb. I have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look back on the distance I have come. But I can only rest for a moment, for with freedom comes responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk is not ended.

) I am the master of my fate and the captain of my destiny.

– Sources: Wikipedia, forbes.com, goodreads.com and Google

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There is no easy walk to freedom anywhere, and many of us will have to pass through the valley of the shadow of death again and again before we reach the mountain top of our desires.”

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